Chrysanthemum plant named &#39;dlfmexi4&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Chrysanthemum  plant named ‘DLFMEXI4’, characterized by its upright plant habit; uniform growth habit; uniform and freely flowering habit; dark green-colored leaves; strong upright flowering stems; single-type inflorescences with deep red-colored ray florets and yellowish green-colored disc florets; resistance to  Fusarium , White Rust and Western Flower Thrips; relative tolerance to high and low production temperatures; and good postproduction longevity.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO CLOSELY-RELATED APPLICATIONS

Title: Varieties of Chrysanthemum Plants

Inventor/Applicant: Arie Gerard Post

Filed: Dec. 13, 2020

Ser. No. 63/124,834

Inventor/Applicant hereby claims the priority benefit of this provisional U.S. Patent Application.

Botanical designation: Chrysanthemum X morifolium.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DLFMEXI4’.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY INVENTOR/APPLICANT & ASSIGNEE

An European Plant Breeder's Rights application for the instant plant was filed by the Assignee, Deliflor Royalties B.V. of Maasdijk,

The Netherlands on Feb. 16, 2021, application number 2021/0505. Foreign priority is not claimed to this application.

A Japanese Plant Breeder's Rights application for the instant plant was filed by the Assignee, Deliflor Royalties B.V. of Maasdijk, The Netherlands on Sep. 8, 2021, application number 35706. Foreign priority is not claimed to this application.

The Inventor/Applicant and Assignee assert that no publications nor advertisements relating to sales, offers for sale or public distribution occurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of this application. Any information about the claimed plant would have been obtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from the Inventor/Applicant and/or the Assignee. Inventor/Applicant and Assignee claim a prior art exception under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/or sales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior to the effective filing date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant, botanically known as Chrysanthemum x morifolium, typically grown as a cut flower Chrysanthemum and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘DLFMEXI4’.

The new Chrysanthemum plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Maasdijk, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new cut flower Chrysanthemum plants with unique and attractive inflorescences. The new Chrysanthemum plant originated from a cross-pollination in September, 2017 of a proprietary selection of Chrysanthemum x morifolium identified as code number db 58286, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Chrysanthemum x morifolium identified as code number db 56123, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Chrysanthemum plant was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Maasdijk, The Netherlands in September, 2018.

Asexual reproduction of the new Chrysanthemum plant by vegetative terminal cuttings since September, 2018 in a controlled greenhouse environment in Maasdijk, The Netherlands, has shown that the unique features of this new Chrysanthemum plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature, daylength and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘DLFMEXI4’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘DLFMEXI4’ as a new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant:

-   -   1. Upright plant habit; uniform growth habit.     -   2. Uniform and freely flowering habit.     -   3. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   4. Strong upright flowering stems.     -   5. Single-type inflorescences with deep red-colored ray florets         and greenish yellow-colored disc florets.     -   6. Resistant to Fusarium (Fusarium oxysporum), White Rust         (Puccinia horiana) and Western Flower Thrips.     -   7. Relatively tolerant to high and low production temperatures.     -   8. Good postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in leaf shape as leaves of plants of the new Chrysanthemum are shorter and broader than leaves of plants of the female parent selection are purplish pink in color. In addition, ray florets of plants of the new Chrysanthemum have bluntly acute to shallowly praemorse apices whereas ray florets of plants of the female parent selection have emarginate apices.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in disc floret color as disc florets of plants of the new Chrysanthemum are greenish yellow in color whereas disc florets of plants of the male parent selection are more yellow in color.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can be compared to plants of Chrysanthemum X morifolium ‘DLFHAI4’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ primarily from plants of ‘DLFHAI4’ in ray floret color as ray florets of plants of the new Chrysanthemum are darker red than ray florets of plants of ‘DLFHAI4’. In addition, ray florets of plants of the new Chrysanthemum are straighter and not as reflexing as ray florets of plants of ‘DLFHAI4.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Chrysanthemum plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.

The photograph at the top of the sheet (FIG. 1) comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering stein of ‘DLFMEXI4’ grown as a spray-type cut flower.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet (FIG. 2) is a close-up view of upper (left) and lower (right) surfaces of typical inflorescences and typical leaves of ‘DLFMEXI4’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the late winter in ground beds in a glass-covered greenhouse in Maasdijk, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial cut Chrysanthemum production. Plants were initially given long day/short night treatments followed by short day/long night treatments to induce flower initiation and development. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 25° C., night temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 22° C. and light levels averaged 7 klux. Plants were grown as single-stem spray-type plants and were ten weeks old when the photographs and the description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Chrysanthemum X morifolium ‘DLFMEXI4’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Chrysanthemum x morifolium identified as code number db             58286, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Chrysanthemum x morifolium identified as code number db             56123, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About four days at             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About six days at             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 13 days             at temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 15 days             at temperatures about 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically creamy white in             color, actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate             composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate             temperature and physiological age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching, medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous single-type cut flower             that is typically grown as a single stein spray-type;             upright plant habit; vigorous growth habit and rapid growth             rate.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 70.9             cm.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of inflorescence             plane.—About 77.8 cm.         -   Plant (spray) diameter.—About 16.6 cm.         -   Flowering stein length.—About 67.7 cm.         -   Flowering stein diameter.—About 7 mm.         -   Flowering stein internode length.—About 2.9 cm.         -   Flowering stein strength.—Strong.         -   Flowering stein aspect.—Erect.         -   Flowering stein texture and luster.—Densely pubescent;             slightly glossy.         -   Flowering stein color, developing.—Close to 144A.         -   Flowering stein color, developed.—Close to 146A; at the             ridges, tinged with close to 197A.         -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Alternate; simple. Length:             About 11.2 cm. Width: About 7.7 cm. Shape, in overall             outline: Broadly oblong. Apex: Abruptly acute, minute. Base:             Attenuate. Margin: Palmately lobed, coarsely dentate to             serrate; sinuses convergent and medium to deep in depth;             slightly undulate. Texture and luster, upper surface:             Moderately pubescent, not rugose; slightly velvety; slightly             glossy. Texture and luster, lower surface: Moderately             pubescent, prominent venation; slightly glossy. Venation             pattern: Pinnate, reticulate. Color: Developing leaves,             upper surface: Close to NN137B. Developing leaves, lower             surface: Close to 147B. Fully developed leaves, upper             surface: Close to NN137A; venation, close to 146A. Fully             developed leaves, lower surface: Close to between 146A and             147B; venation, close to 146B. Petioles: Length: About             1.4 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm by 5 mm. Strength: Moderately             strong. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces:             Densely pubescent; slightly glossy. Color, lower surface:             Close to 146C; edges, close to 146A. Stipules: Quantity and             appearance: Two leafy stipules, opposite, at the petiole             attachment to the stein. Length: About 5 mm. Width: About             3 mm. Shape, in overall outline: Broadly ovate; apex, acute             to occasionally deeply incised; base, broadly cuneate.             Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Moderately             pubescent; slightly glossy. Color, upper surface: Close to             NN137A. Color, lower surface: Close to between 146A and             147B. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance.—Single-type inflorescence form with obovate to             broadly elliptic-shaped ray florets and tubular disc             florets; inflorescences borne perpendicular to peduncles and             face upright to slightly outwardly; ray and disc florets             develop acropetally on a capitulum.         -   Fragrance.—Faintly fragrant; typical of Chrysanthemums.         -   Flowering response.—Under natural conditions, plant flower             in the autumn/winter in the Northern Hemisphere; at other             times of the year, inflorescence initiation and development             can be induced under short day/long night conditions (at             least 13.5 hours of darkness); uniform flowering habit and             short response time, plants exposed to two weeks of long             day/short night conditions after planting followed by             photoinductive short day/long night conditions flower about             54 days later when grown as a spray-type.         -   Postproduction longevity.—Good postproduction longevity;             after a seven-day storage period, cut flowers will maintain             good color and substance for about two weeks in an interior             environment; inflorescences persistent.         -   Quantity of inflorescences.—Only grown as a spray-type,             about 14 inflorescences develop per flowering stein.         -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter, grown as a spray-type: About             7.4 cm. Depth (height), grown as a spray-type: About 2.9 cm.             Disc diameter: About 1.7 cm.         -   Receptacles.—Height: About 4 mm. Diameter: About 6 mm.             Shape: Flattened globular. Color: Close to 145D.         -   Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 9 mm. Diameter: About             1.2 cm. Shape: Flattened spherical. Texture and luster:             Moderately; slightly glossy. Color: Developing involucral             bracts, close to 143A and 145C; developing ray florets,             close to N77B.         -   Ray florets.—Quantity and arrangement: About 32 arranged in             about three whorls. Length: About 3.4 cm, varying between 3             cm and 3.9 cm. Width: About 1.5 cm, varying between 1.3 cm             and 1.6 cm. Shape: Obovate to broadly elliptic; moderately             concave and moderately carinate. Apex: Bluntly acute to             shallowly praemorse. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire; not             undulate. Aspect: About 60° from vertical. Texture and             luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; moderately velvety;             matte. Texture and luster, lower surface: Smooth, glabrous;             slightly velvety; slightly glossy. When opening, lower             surface: Close to 184B. Fully opened, upper surface: Close             to between 53A and 60A; venation, close to 53A and 60A;             color does not change with subsequent development. Fully             opened, lower surface: Close to 184B and 184C; venation,             close to 185B; color does not change with subsequent             development.         -   Disc florets.—Quantity and arrangement: About 160 spirally             arranged in about seven whorls at the center of the             receptacle. Length: About 6.5 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Shape: Tubular; proximally, 85% fused and distally, 15%             free. Apex: Acute. Margin, free-part: Entire. Texture and             luster, inner and outer surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; glossy.             Color: When developing, inner and outer surfaces: Distally,             close to N144A and proximally, close to 145D. Fully             developed, inner and outer surfaces: Distally, close to 6B             and proximally, close to 145D.         -   Involucral bracts.—Quantity and arrangement: About 28             arranged in about three whorls. Length: About 9 mm. Width:             About 3 mm. Shape: Oblong. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Cuneate.             Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth,             glabrous; glossy. Texture and luster, lower surface:             Sparsely pubescent; matte. Color, upper surface: Close to             136B; lateral margins, translucent and close to 145D and             157A and apical margins tinged with close to N199A. Color,             lower surface: Close to NN137B; lateral margins, translucent             and close to 145D and 157A and apical margins tinged with             close to N199A.         -   Peduncles.—Length, terminal peduncle: About 4.3 cm.             Diameter, terminal peduncle: About 3 mm. Length, third             peduncle, grown as a spray-type: About 8 cm. Diameter, third             peduncle, grown as a spray-type: About 2.75 mm. Strength:             Strong. Aspect, terminal peduncle: Upright. Aspect, third             peduncle: About 40° from the flowering stein axis. Texture             and luster: Moderately pubescent; moderately glossy. Color:             Close to 143A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets             only. Quantity: About five per floret. Filament length:             About 3 mm. Filament color: Close to 151D. Anther size:             About 0.5 mm by 2 mm. Anther shape: Oblong. Anther color:             Close to 153D. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color: Close to             12A. Gynoecium: Present on both ray and disc florets.             Quantity: One per floret. Pistil length: About 6 mm. Style             length: About 5 mm. Style color: Close to 145C. Stigma             diameter: About 1 mm. Stigma shape: Cleft, decurrent. Stigma             color: Close to 153D. Ovary color: Close to 157A.         -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit development have             not been observed on plants of the new Chrysanthemum. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have     been observed to be resistant to Fusarium (Fusarium oxysporum),     White Rust (Puccinia horiana) and Western Flower Thrips. To date,     plants of the new Chrysanthemum have not been observed to be     resistant to other pathogens and pests common to Chrysanthemum     plants grown under commercial conditions. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have been     observed to tolerate temperatures ranging from about −12° C. to     35° C. and to be suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 8 to 10. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant named ‘DLFMEXI4’ as illustrated and described. 